You can negotiate everything during your job search

There’s a small group of people who enjoy negotiating their salary during a job search but most would rather talk about anything but the money questions even though compensation often affects your career decisions.

It’s not uncommon for job candidates to resort to taking a lesser paying job rather than negotiating for a compensation level that is satisfying. Just because negotiating feels awkward, it doesn’t mean you need to avoid it.

One of the reasons why it’s important to discuss compensation is when you settle for less pay without other trade-offs, such as a reduced commute time or more vacation, you could easily end up restarting a job search, looking again for a better opportunity. The anguish in facing negotiating starts all over again.

The goal of landing a good job begins with a mutually satisfying relationship with your new employer and part of that relationship is based on being compensated for your experience. Learning how to negotiate pays off in a couple of ways – the knowledge of discussing an uncomfortable subject such as money will lead to a boost in confidence and a positive start to a new job.

Keep your compensation expectations realistic but combine them with a flexible attitude. Money is important but it’s not the only reason why working is satisfying. Don’t make the mistake of turning down a good job opportunity based on compensation alone – you might regret your decision later.

Here are five ways you can improve your negotiation skills during your job search:

• Know your value in the marketplace. The more you research salaries for positions in specific fields of interests, the more likely you are to have a successful discussion with the employer. Websites such as Glassdoor, Payscale and Salary.com are all helpful in providing information.

It’s difficult to show confidence when you are unsure of your worth in the job market, researching helps you make a better decision. Women are often paid less than their male counterparts and becoming more comfortable in talking about your value is imperative in making a good impression.

• Let the employer go first. Timing is critical when discussing money and when negotiating an initial salary for a job, let the employer be the first one to discuss compensation. When you bring up compensation and mention a number first, you take a risk. You could end up losing money because the employer might have offered more, or you could lose an offer because you might ask for more than the employer will pay.

• Prepare and practice answering salary questions before an interview. It may feel awkward at first to practice an imagined conversation out loud but it’s worth every ounce of effort during an offer discussion. When you are too quick to agree to an offer, it could send signs of desperation.

• Never overlook additional things to negotiate, such as benefits and perks. Don’t limit yourself to talking just about finances rather practice talking about other perks such as training, flextime, bonuses, vacation and salary increases with a defined timeline.

• Get clear confirmation by asking for the offer to be written down. Writing down the information and agreement in the form of a letter helps you with closure and prevents any misunderstandings.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s OK to ask the employer how they arrived at the compensation being offered. They could be calculating benefits that you might not need. Your goal is to ask questions to help you understand rather than put the employer on the defensive.

In addressing salary questions, what’s the worst that can happen? You may not receive everything you had hoped for but if you don’t ask, you increase the chances of not receiving the things that are important to you.

Always be sensitive to the employer’s needs and situations, their offer could be based on their financial health. It helps to show support to employers who might be in a start-up mode; consider discussing other options outside of your compensation such as a sign-on bonus or equity in the company.

Stick to business reasons when negotiating, combined with personal ones. Understanding your needs and those of the company helps you set the stage by creating win-win solutions.

These five tips will help keep your attitude upbeat and positive when knowing everything is negotiable – only if you ask.

What is your best negotiation story? What did you do that achieve a successful outcome?